Swimming device



0. W. GRUNDMNN.

SWIMMING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJ, i921.

Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

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To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, Or'ro WILLIAM GRUNDMANN, a citizen of the United States of lAmerica, and a residentof Jersey City,-

produce a swimming device which when at tached to the hand will be prevented from shifting n any direction, yet permit the bending of the lingers during the overhead stroke.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing Figures 1 to 4 show plan views of different modifications of a swimming device or plate, and Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are sections on lines 5 5; 6 6; 7 7; and 8 8 respectively. i

f Referring specifically tothe drawing the swimming device consists of a pair of plates of rigid material, preferably aluminum, one

for each hand, each shaped to conform in outline with thenatural shape of a hand, but somewhat larger in area so as to present a greater bearing surface to the water and thereby assist in propulsion of the swimmer. These plates may be made-of a single piece, as plates l0 shown in Figs.

1 and 2 or may be composed ofk two pivotally connected sections as plates 10 102 shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The edge of the plate surrounding the finger tips may be Vcurved to form a centrally pointed part 10aN whereby the strokes can be Acarried out with ,little resistance. The device may be attached to extend over the outer lface or the palm of the hand. Two separate attachment means are used, one to encirclel the fingers and the other the palm of the hand.

According to the construction shown in Fig. 1 the attachment over the fingers consists of straps 11, 11", permanently attached 'member 13 made of metal or the like.

.at 25 and 26 to the plate.

` Specification of Letters Patent. Fatned NGV; 1, gg; Application filed August 1, 1921. Serial No. 488,898. I i

in any suitable manner to the plate at 11CL andthe free ends of which are adapted to be tightened together by a suitable buckle The attachment over the palm of the hand comprises a strap 12 permanently fixed to the plate at. 12a and passed in a twisted Vposition through a slot .13 of a This member is attached to a short strap 14 passing through a second slot 132 thereof and carrying a buckle ZJ serving to Vtighten a third strap 16 fixedto the plate at 16.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2, a

Vsingle wrist or thumb strap 17 carrying a buckle b is used. This strap is passed through slots 19 in the plate in the manner shown.

To facilitate overhead stroke swimming requiring the bending of the hand, the plate may be constructed as follows The plate 10 is divided transversely along the knuckle part of the hand into two parts pivotally connected together by hinges 21, 21 or the like fixed to the inner face of the plate. This plate may be attached to the hand by similar straps to those shown in Figs. 1 and 2 or the following construction may be used. A single finger strap 22 is used passing around the plate through slots 23 of the latter, and is to be tightened by a buckle b. The wrist or thumb attachment is composed of straps 25, 26 fixed The strap 26 is passed through slots 27, to have its free end tightened by the buckle j In this modification the adjoining edges of the two sections bear on each other. The sections may be locked'in unfolded position to form a rigid piece by a locking bolt 29 as shown in Figs. 3 and 6.

In Fig. 4 the plate 102 is also composed of two transversely divided andliinged parts, but the latter are cut out at their adjoining edges to form a concavo-convex opening 31 which may be suitably covered by a piece of canvas 32 or other flexible material to prevent friction or injury to the knuckles Vof It will be seen that by my novel construction the greatest resistance offered by the water will bev presented on the most effective part of the hand. By virtue of the shape given to the plates the same will not interere with the movement of the wrists.

The edges of the plate may be properly rounded to prevent injury when handling the same.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letmaterial shaped to conform with the natural outline of a hand and divided transversely near the knuckle part into two sections pivoted to one another, the adjoining edges of said plate being cut out to leave a free space around the knuckles, a piece of flexible material covering said space and means forfthe attachment of said device to the hand.

2. In a swimming device, a plate of rigid material, divided transversely into sections pivotally connected together, a lock for 'locking said sections in outstretched position andmeans for the attachment of the device to the hand.

3. In a swimming device, a plate of rigid material, and attachment means including two straps of which one is permanently ixed at both ends to said plate in a twisted position and the other is fixed to said plate at one end, a member carried by said twisted strap and adapted to be engaged by the free end of said second strap and means Vfor tightening said second strap.

Signed at New York, this 30 day of July 1921. v

OTTO WILLIAM GRUNDMANN.

Witnessesn MAX D. ORDMANN, JOSEPH F. McMAHoN. 

